RCN Scotland calls for improvement in dementia care

RCN Scotland has called for an improvement in care home treament for people with dementia. The plea comes in the wake of a joint report from the Care Commission and Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, which found that the quality of care for half the people in care homes in Scotland is not good enough.

Remember, I’m Still Me raised concerns about the excessive use of drugs to control behaviour, finding that 75% of residents were on some kind of psychoactive medicine, with 20% given covert medication.

Concerns were also raised about poor quality environments, lack of access to a GP and lack of record keeping for pharmacists’ visits.

Less than a quarter (24%) had an adequate record of their life history, which is a key factor in treating dementia.

Ellen Hudson, RCN Scotland’s director for learning and development, said: ‘The RCN has been campaigning for some time for all those working in health care to place dignity at the heart of everything they do.

‘This joint report clearly demonstrates that care homes need to take action now to prioritise dignity, respect the individual and be sensitive to their needs.’